BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — A West Virginia serpent-handling preacher died after being bitten by a timber rattlesnake during a religious service.

Mark Randall “Mack” Wolford, pastor of Full Gospel Apostolic House of the Lord Jesus in Matoaka, W.Va, was preaching at an outdoor homecoming service when he was bitten in the thigh, The Beckley Register-Herald reported Wednesday

Lauren Pond, who is working on a documentary about Wolford, was at the gathering in Panther State Forest where the incident occurred.

“I didn’t expect it [the bite] to happen,” Pond said. “I don’t think anyone [in the congregation] necessarily expected it, but they’ve dealt with it before so it’s not such a huge shock maybe.”

After 40 minutes, 44-year-old Wolford was taken to a residence in Brushfork where he usually recovers from such bites. It was Pond who eventually called emergency services and Wolford was transported to the Bluefield Regional Medical Center.

He died from his injuries Monday, the report stated.

The pastor had been bitten at least three other times and had never sought medical attention, documentary filmmaker Kate Fowler told the Charleston Daily Mail.

Wolford and his followers believe in the practice of serpent handling, taking a passage in the Bible’s Book of Mark literally, she said.

They believe that a snake bite shows one of two things — either the person handling the snake had sinned, or God was using the person as messenger.

“I’m sure [his followers] all feel it’s a result of him being a messenger,” Fowler added.